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Remodeling began Tuesday, Oct. 23 at Holyoke Marketplace to make space that will be used to house Holyoke Pharmacy.

Jamie Hanes, Pharm.D., of Imperial, Neb. and Jason Burke of Omaha, Neb. have partnered for the joint venture that will bring a new pharmacy to the Holyoke community, and they are chomping at the bit to open.

Hanes has worked with his father, Jim, at Adams Drug in Imperial, Neb. for the past four years. Burke is a pharmacy student at University of Nebraska Medical Center and will graduate in May with his degree. He is currently performing a rotation in Omaha at a Walgreens store.

“We’re pretty excited,” Hanes said last Wednesday of the new venture.

When the news broke that Pamida in Holyoke would be closing, Hanes said he and Burke, who was serving a one-month rotation in Imperial with Hanes, began tossing the idea around. In August, they began talking with Holyoke Marketplace owners Brad Moline and Kenny Owens about the idea.

“It snowballed from there,” Burke said.

Mike Smith is in charge of the renovation at Holyoke Marketplace and said last week he expects it to take around two months—depending on weather.

Owens said they will simply rent the space out to Holyoke Pharmacy. He also noted business in the grocery store will go on as usual during the renovation project, and he hopes customers understand.

A 420-square-foot space located in the southwest portion of the building will be where the new pharmacy will be housed.

Hanes will serve as the pharmacist to begin with. He said they have been in communication with three others who may possibly help fill in. Hanes said there will always be a pharmacist at the store, which is scheduled to be open six days a week. A pharmacy technician will also be staffed at the location.

Prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs will be available. Gift lines are not something they plan to offer.

Burke said they are excited about the opportunity of incorporating a pharmacy with the grocery store—something that is rare in rural communities. They hope to make the one-stop shopping experience convenient.

He also noted they are looking forward to working with the health care providers in Holyoke and the surrounding area.

“We not only wanted to bring a full-service pharmacy to Holyoke but give back to the community as well,” Burke said.

“Our chips are all in,” Hanes added.

Both Hanes and Burke are familiar with the area, having grown up in Imperial. They both enjoy it and want to make it their home.

“There is nowhere else we want to invest our time,” Burke said.

Hanes is a 1995 graduate of Chase County High School. He received his bachelor’s degree from University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 2000. He graduated from Creighton University in 2004 with his pharmacy degree.

He currently works with his father at Adams Drug in Imperial. He also serves as a pharmacy consultant for the long-term care facility and provides an anticoagulation clinic at Chase County Community Hospital.

After graduation, he spent time in Iowa and Minnesota working with hospitals and clinics.

Hanes’ wife, Brandy, is a family nurse practitioner at Chase County Community Hospital. The couple has two children, Madelynn, 7, and Miles, 4.

In his free time, Hanes enjoys the outdoors, running, sports and keeping up with his kids. He also said he plays the guitar.

Burke is a 2004 CCHS graduate. He received his business degree in accounting from UNL in 2009. He then began his pharmacy studies at University of Nebraska Medical Center. He is currently in the process of serving 10 four-week rotations which take him to rural areas, larger hospitals and chain drug stores.

Burke and wife Whitney, who is a registered nurse, live in Omaha. He enjoys golfing, hunting, going to the lake and spending time with family.